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Western Australia is the first state to commit to legalising plug-in balcony solar and batteries. It’s a big win for millions of Australians who’ve been shut out of cheap, clean power.
If you rent or live in an apartment, you’ve probably watched the solar boom happen on other people’s roofs. That’s about to change.
Western Australia is the first state to commit to legalising plug-in balcony solar and batteries. It’s a big win for millions of Australians who’ve been shut out of cheap, clean power.
Roughly a third of Australian households rent, and millions more live in apartments with shared roofs. Today only around 3.5% of apartments and 11% of rentals have solar.
The job isn’t done yet. The WA Government has opened formal consultation on safety standards, and legislation and technical rules still need to follow before anything can be sold. We want certified systems on shelves by mid-June 2027, and every renter and apartment owner able to use one.
Once the standards are in place, certified kits are expected to cost roughly $450 for two panels, or more with a portable battery. They’re likely to be sold through mainstream retailers, so you can buy one, set it up on your balcony and start cutting your power bill by around $200 a year.
How do we make sure every renter and apartment owner can install plug in solar?
Making the hardware legal means little if a landlord can say no or a strata committee can block it. If that happens, renters and apartment owners are locked out all over again. We’re pushing for a clear right to install compliant plug-in systems, without unreasonable barriers from landlords or strata.
What role did Rewiring Australia play in helping to legalise balcony solar?
We’ve spent years showing federal and state energy ministers the evidence that shutting non-homeowners out of household energy slows decarbonisation and deepens energy inequality. In September we joined industry partners in calling for a 12-month roadmap to give Australians the “right to plug in”. WA’s announcement is a direct result of that pressure, and it sets the precedent for every other state to follow.
Read more about Balcony Solar:
- Our technical paper on balcony solar - Enabling Portable Energy Devices and a Renter’s Right to Plug In
- September 2026 media release - Balcony Solar | Rewiring Australia Updates
- May 2026 media release - Proposal targets cheaper power for renters locked out of solar savings | Rewiring Australia Updates
- Our electrification campaign for renters - Electrification for Renters
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